A/N: Hey! Hope you enjoy
Disclaimer: I do not own Maximum Ride or anything related to it. At all. Unfortunately.
"Pleeeease Max?!" Nudge had been pleading for what felt like hours, but was probably only minutes.
"Fine, but we can't spend more than a few days. And no more Coke and Mentoes, got it?" I said, glaring at Gazzy who shrugged sheepishly and Iggy who was trying to give him an inconspicuous high-five (which might sound easy, but when you're several thousand feet up, it's no walk in the park. Honestly, you try it). Immediately following my agreement, Nudge squealed and started rambling on about who cares what.
Just take a deep breath Max, no need to get angry. I thought to myself.
It was totally true too. We just left from Dr. Marti- umm, mom's house (man, is that going to take some getting used to), and we decided to take a sort of hiatus from finding the flocks families. It has been about two weeks since we left, but I have this strange feeling that it isn't over, and everyday that knotted, pit-of-the-stomach feeling seems to grow.
I felt someone staring at me, and turned to my right to see Fang. He raised his eyebrow slightly and I realized that my expression was probably a mix of anxiety and concern.
I sighed. Darn Fang and his darned ability to hide his darned emotions (okay fine, I didn't say it exactly like that, but you get the point). I gave him a "We'll talk about it later" look with absolutely no intention of actually telling him. What would he say? Lets see how this little conversation would go, shall we?
Me: "Umm, ya, so I have this feeling that we didn't really destroy the whole School thingy like we thought we did even though we definitely did. I just think that they will still come after us even though there is umm, no one to...well to come after us...but I still think that they will...ya"
Fang (taking several steps back): "What the H-E-double hockey sticks are you talking about?!"
And of course, after that unabashed display of insanity, he and the rest of the flock will realize exactly how batty and unbalanced I am and take off, leaving me to be the crazy old lady that lives down the street and makes pot holders to all hours of the night (shudders at the thought).
Or, he would tell me that I have nothing to worry about and that even if they are still out there we could take them. Dang logical side of me.
"Gazzy!" Angel yelled. The Gasman had tried to pulled a can of coke out of Angel's pack and put it in his own.
"Aww, come on Angel! I need it!" Gazzy pleaded back.
"Pray tell, for what?" I said, my light tone contrasting with my murderous expression.
Instantly Gazzy's face went slightly pale. Without thinking of it, he slowed down. Which wouldn't have been so bad if Iggy hadn't been behind him and focusing on trying to shut Nudge up. Iggy (who just so happened to be holding a now antsy Total) collided into Gazzy's feet, and began to drop. Nudge shrieked, causing everyone to hold their ears in pain (which included a now falling Iggy). Suddenly his wings snapped open (can we all say ouch?) and he was gracefully flying back up to where we were hovering.
"Thanks Angel...I guess" Iggy said, a slightly pained expression on his face. If you don't know what it feels like to free-fall and then open your wings, let me give you a realistic example. Has anyone ever tried to rip your limbs off? No? Well it feels something like that. Moving on.
Angel had the most adorable smile on her face: she was absolutely beaming. "No problem Ig." I smiled. When she needed to be, Angel could literally be an angel (let's not get into when she isn't feeling so helpful).
Welcome to our lives. One near death experience after another.
I rub my temples, trying futilely to push out all my thoughts out (with no luck, incase you were wondering), and looked down to see where I said we would land (most people would look before agreeing, but those would be the normal, happy, non-mutant type. I have no such luck.
We had been heading towards the sun all day and just enjoyed the freedom of flying without the fear of beening annihilated (well, at least that is what everyone else was feeling, not so much me). We all felt that familiar (and yet still painful) burning at the back of our eyes when we flew towards the sun, but at least it wasn't the bleeding and bruises we get from whipping Eraser butts (just thinking about how many times we have fought them and won never ceases to put a smile on my face). I turn my slightly burning eyes down to the ground and see nothing but acres and acres of green forests. Combine that with the warm sun, no chances of rain or Erasers, and you have got one bunch of relatively happy avian-human mutant freaks.
I spot a small river and decide that that is where we will be headed.
"Alright everyone, river at ten o'clock." We all start angling down, savoring the feeling of the wind and sense of freedom we get when flying. In the far distance I heard the sound of cars and knew there was a town near by incase we needed something. Mom had given us so many things (including cookies, drool) that we probably wouldn't need anything for a week or two.
After touching down, I survey the area around us. I could try and describe it poetically, but basically, it's just a bunch of trees. Trees to the left and trees to the right. Nothing too special.
"Max?!" Nudge and Angel looked like they eaten a box of Krispy Kream doughnuts each and than decided it would be fun to inhale a few candy bars. They were literally jumping up and down.
I smiled. Yes, I know I know, I'm a softy, but they just looked so darn cute.
"Yes you can go, but be careful, and stay together." I answered, already knowing that they would want to swim. They immediately ran full speed to the river with Gazzy in tow. I looked around the small clearing and Fang and I began to clear away some of the debris and set up a place for a fire. Iggy began to light the fire and took out some food to cook. While I was setting up the sleeping bags in the traditional circle around the fire, I looked over at Iggy and practically choked with gratitude. If Iggy wasn't there, I don't know how I would have gotten this far (we would be hungry all the time or have food poisoning 24/7. Trust me on this). The same goes for all of them: Iggy with his mouth-watering cooking no matter what the ingredients, Fang with his support and loyalty (trust me, if Fang wasn't an avian-human mutant, I would have sworn that he was a golden retriever), Nudge with her ha-
I felt a tap on my shoulder and quickly turned around. Fang was right behind me and to my embarrassment, I had probably been standing here day dreaming about the flock with a sappy expression on my face.
Before I could blush Fang spoke: "What's wrong?"
I looked down at the ground: Should I tell him? He'll bug me to no end about it and get mad at me, but if-
I was shaken out of my train of thought (again! What's wrong with me?), but not by a little tapping on my shoulder. This time it was because of a crash. And it was in the direction of where Nudge, Gazzy and Angel had bolted of to.
Crap. This can't be good.
Instantly I ran top speed toward them. I only barely saw the trees and foliage rush past me and the faint outline of Fang and Iggy to my left.
Why didn't one of us go with them? If something happens...I couldn't even finish that thought I didn't want to think about what would happen.
Whatever happened is all my fault...
I poured on the speed, using my feelings as fuel and pushing my legs until they were numb from the pain. I used all of the leftover anger (which is a lot, by the way) I had from the School, from Jeb, from the Erasers and drove myself beyond what I thought were my limits. When we broke through to the clearing I saw them. Nudge, Gazzy and Angel. Playing and splashing in the water. If I wasn't so relieved at that moment I would have been furious.
"What happened?" I said, well wheezed was more like it. The pain that I had ignored while running came back with a vengeance.
Gazzy looked up, apparently not surprised in the least that we were there and practically doubled over from exhaustion.
"You have to see this, it's so cool" Gazzy swim to the shore and started looking up at the trees. Fang, Iggy and I looked at Nudge and Angel to try and get so kind of explanation, but they were sitting on a large rock in the middle of the river looking over at Gazzy with large smiles on their faces.
I looked back at Gazzy who had begun to climb a tree whose limbs were extended over the water. He took hold of a branch that, in my opinion, didn't look to sturdy. I was about to tell him to get down before he hurt himself, when he jumped off the tree, still holding the branch.
"Geronimo!" He yelled at the same time the branch snapped (which would explain the crashing sound we heard before). Gazzy landed in the water with a loud splash and came up with a large smile on his face.
"Wasn't that awesome? You guys gotta try it!"
"Umm, maybe later Gazzy. I don't feel very "Tarzan-ish" right now." I said, not sure exactly how I should respond. I heard Fang describing to Iggy what Gazzy did. His eyes lit up and before he could do anything rash, I raised my hands.
"Don't even think about it. I would rather you guys kept your limbs unbroken, thank you very much." Iggy had a very realistic looking disappointed face on, but if I hadn't seen it a million times before when I made him get rid of "all" his bombs (and then have to say the same thing the next day), I would have believed it. Fang's expression was unreadable (as per normal) but there was something about it that seemed too innocent...
I narrowed my eyes at them but before I could smack them at the back of head for thinking about whatever they were thinking, they grabbed me and started to drag me towards the river.
They wanna throw me in the water? Bring it on boys.
I maneuvered my leg behind Fangs' legs and kicked him the back of the knees. He fell (quite ungracefully, might I add) pulling Iggy and I down with him. I used that momentum and threw myself back towards Iggy, causing him to tumble as well. I shot up as fast as I could (luckily Fang's shoe laces were caught on a root) and grab both of them. I threw them back as far as I could (apparently they had way too many chocolate chip cookies because they were very heavy), and pravtically snapped my arms in the process. They both landed with a satisfying splash and resurfaced sputtering like idiots.
Serves them right. Nobody throws Maximum Ride into the water! I thought, smiling.
They were both completely shocked and then suddenly their expressions were calm.
"Iggy." Fang said, turning to Iggy with a very composed voice (despite the fact they he was absolutely soaked).
"Fang." Iggy said, in the exact same voice.
Oh no.
They both lunged out of the water straight towards me. I turned around, trying to make it back to camp, but I felt two pairs of strong hands grabbing and (surprise surprise!) pulling me back towards the water. I fought as hard as I could without actually hurting them, but apparently it wasn't enough. I landed in the water with my tailbone hitting the hard ground. I resurfaced and probably looked exactly like they did. Like an idiot, I thought to myself dryly.
Maybe I should have hurt them...I thought as the flocks laugher made its way to my ears.
I slowly got up "accidentally" splashing Fang and Iggy. I had the luck of wearing jeans today and a long sleeved green shirt. I will definitely get them back for this. I looked down and realized with a groan that I still had my running shoes on. I made my way back to the shore (Fang and Iggy avidly avoiding me) and sat down on the ground. I took off both of my shoes and threw one at Fang and one at Iggy, both hitting them on the head.
"Hey! That's not fair! I couldn't see it coming." Iggy complained, rubbing the side of head where my soggy shoe hit him.
"Whatever, Ig." I said, smiling and rolling my eyes.
"Max?"
I turned my head to where the voice was coming from. I thought at first it was Angel, but I realized it was Nudge.
Wait, Nudge never speaks so quietly...or so little.
Nudge was looking to her left at Angel, who was as white as a ghost with eyes like saucers. I went into leader/no-nonsense mode. No one made a sound.
"Angel, what's wrong?"
"Someone's here. From the School I think." She said it so quietly I could barely hear. I visibly saw Nudge and Gazzy stiffen, and I knew that Fang's eyes would be scanning the immediate area.
"Nudge and Gazzy help Angel." I said trying to keep my voice normal and nonchalant incase whoever was there was listening. They seemed to understand and swam normally but cautiously to Fang, Iggy and I who were on shore. I could see the worry on Nudges' face and fear flash through Gazzy eyes. Angel was concentrating hard on something and Fang was at her side the second she was on shore.
"Alright everyone, let's go back to camp." I tried to keep my voice from showing any kind of worry, but I was preoccupied with millions of thoughts racing through my head.
Who was it? How many? Why now? Was I right before, and not just paranoid? What is Angel doing? Is she trying to find out more info?
I thought all of this while grabbing Nudges' hand and beginning to walk fast through the forest. Fang had taken Angels' hand and Iggy was holding Total with Gazzy at his side. I moment we entered our camp site we made a familiar mad dash to pack everything. The food Iggy was cooking before we heard the crash was still over the fire and burnt beyond recognition. We just about had everything ready (and I'm pretty sure we had an all time record of speedy pack-up) when Angel snapped to attention.
"Oh, there's no need to pack everything up. They're coming." We all looked at her, completely frozen. Nudge with a granola bar in her mouth while stuff a blanket in her bag, Fang putting out the fire and rolling up his sleeping bag while putting the frying pan away (how does he do it?). Iggy and Gazzy were putting away their stuff (stuff as in bombs and the like) and I was grabbing everything left behind as well as both my things and Angels.
"What do you mean sweetie?" I asked, not sure if I really wanted an answer.
"They heard us and they decided to come." She unbuckled Total (who was strapped into his baby carrier, probably by Fang), and walked to the middle of the site and sat down, talking to Total about what it feels like to breath underwater.
The rest of the flock just stared at me, still frozen. What should I do?
Okay options:
1) We stay, which possibly means fighting, depending on what's coming.
2) We U and A, possibly causing whatever it is to attack us from behind.
3) We all go to sleep and dream of rainbow bunnies and purple spotted daffodils in a land where everything is made of chocolate covered sunshine and cotton candy unicorns.
I was about to tell everyone what I decided when I looked over at Fang. He had a "You know I don't like bunnies and unicorns so don't even think about it" look. Well, looks like I'll have to pick something else then.
"Keep packing." I said authoritatively.
Angel looked at me and shrugged. A smile on her face. "Too late." She said.
Iggy's head shot over toward the woods and then I heard it too. Someone was coming. I signaled everyone to get behind me and without a sound everyone moved. Fang had moved to my right and gave me a small, but encouraging, nod. I did the same to him and focused back on the sound coming from the dense forest in front of me. After a moment or two, I began to make out slow foot steps. I tensed, ready to fight, and waited...
A/N: It wasn't as action-packed amazing as I'd have liked it to be, but I needed to get down the basics and background (etc) so next chapter will be more interesting. I'll update probably in 3 days at latest. I hope tomorrow, but if it is tomorrow, it'll probably be later. Maybe.